General applause for health claims deal

The European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME) "mildly welcomes" the compromise. It says that "European SME producers will now have to deal with additional registration procedures through the EFSA if they wish to inform consumers on the nutritional benefits of their foodstuffs. This will increase the bureaucratic burden, limit the number of possible claims and ultimately reduce the amount of information that is available for the consumer," said UEAPME Adviser on Food issues, Ludger Fischer.

"This legislation will guarantee truthful and science-backed information for European consumers. Food labels have a huge influence over consumers' choices and it is only reasonable to expect that the claims on them are not false or misleading. [...] It will also create a fairer market for producers making genuine and substantiated health or nutrition claims. Like any compromise, each side would have liked to go further, but this is a good compromise which takes account of all positions in a balanced way," said Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Kyprianou.

The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) welcomes the final compromise and Parliament's vote on health claims. BEUC is particularly please on the fact that new, previously unknown, claims will have to be substantiated before they can be used in marketing. "We are pleased that health claims will be phased out for sugary, fatty and salty foods," said BEUC Director Jim Murray.

The European Breakfast Cereal Association (CEEREAL): "This compromise is a win–win for European consumers and industry," said CEEREAL President Phil Ruebotham.